The Rugby Championship kicks off for 2017 this weekend, starting with old foes New Zealand and Australia facing off in a match that doubles as the first of the three-match Bledisloe Cup series. So where will the two matches be played, what time do they kick off, and who will feature?

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"The commitment required to be the best and to perform at the highest level is huge. I just didn't think I could do that for another two years."

Moore will play out the remainder of the 2017 season with Australia, including the three Bledisloe Cup Tests, the Rugby Championship and their European tour and said he would benefit from the certainty around his future.

His decision cuts short a three-year contract he signed with the Reds and the Australian Rugby Union last year.

The writing was on for the wall for the 120-Test veteran during the June window when he was dropped to the bench for the clashes against Fiji and Scotland.

"You don't want to be hanging around past your time. It's important to know when the right time is to move on," Moore said.

Irrespective of his decision, Moore said would have handed back the captaincy anyway, describing it as a separate issue.

But he refused to comment on Hooper taking over, saying it would take away from the "enormity" of an official announcement.

Moore, who made his Test debut in 2005, told his teammates he was retiring after completing a recovery session at a Newcastle beach late on Wednesday.

"It's probably the hardest thing I've had to do, telling Cheik and the boys," he said.

"The bottom lip was starting to go a little bit but I guess that's just normal."